TLDR The man's hair loss was due to syphilis, and his hair regrew after treatment.
A 35-year-old Taiwanese man experienced gradual diffuse hair loss on his scalp and eyebrows over 2 months, following a transient maculopapular eruption after an influenza vaccination. Despite initial treatment with 5% minoxidil, his condition worsened. Blood tests revealed syphilis, confirmed by a positive Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay and a high RPR titer. After treatment with benzathine benzylpenicillin, the patient showed significant hair regrowth within 2 months and a reduction in RPR titer, indicating successful treatment of the underlying syphilis.
53 citations,
May 1995 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Syphilis can cause hair loss that looks like other conditions, but it improves with treatment.
10 citations,
July 2012 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Syphilis can cause hair loss and should be considered in unexplained cases.
January 2021 in “Our Dermatology Online” A young man's hair loss was the only sign of syphilis, which improved after treatment.
October 2023 in “Frontiers in medicine” Comprehensive screening for infections is crucial before starting JAK inhibitors in alopecia areata patients.
68 citations,
September 2003 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Shrinking skin cancer increases the chance of cancer in nearby lymph nodes.
29 citations,
January 2017 in “Skin appendage disorders” Hair loss due to syphilis can be identified using trichoscopy and is treatable with antibiotics.
